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Saturday, July 13, 2024

Dog vs. Strawberry, story by Nelly Buchet and art by Andrea Zuill. Random House Studio, 2024. $24.99 ages 5 and up

 


"No surprise to see such a big turnout today. 

Listen to that crowd ... 
Can I get a D? An O? A G?
Give it up for our reigning 
champion: the one and only 

DOOOGGG!!!"

If you were lucky enough to read Cat Dog Dog by this talented team, you heard the story of a blended family where a woman with a cat and a dog, and a man with a dog came together to create a new family. The transition was awfully funny! 

The book begins with a bowl of fruit. and the offer of a strawberry treat for a dog lying quietly on the floor near the sofa. Dog is interested immediately, and the greatest race of all time is imagined! It's Dog against the red fruit ... 

The stuffed animals are lined up and READY! Dog is keen, and being touted as champion from one half of the captive audience. The berry is clearly in favor with the audience on her side of the room. GO is the signal and Dog is off at a quick pace. Strawberry is completely unconcerned with the action. 

Dog spins around the room, showing excitement and energy for the race, even chomping on his own tail to prove his worth. Strawberry remains quiet and fully focused. Dog continues on, proving his mettle and outdoing Strawberry with every new move. Oh, dear! Dog appears to be tiring. Finding a comfy spot, she goes right to sleep. 

In the meantime, a wind blows a plant over ... one leaf lands on the cool red fruit. When Dog wakens, Strawberry is missing from action. There must be something Dog can do to win the race! Tearing off again, she is soon jumping over and landing on a chair with a loud FLUMP!  The leaf blows off, Dog sees that Strawberry is in the lead. Strawberry is going to win! Then, NOT! 

Dog declares herself the winner, of course! Read as if it is an actual race, with drama and excitement at every turn, this will be shared time and again. Well-read children will be able to compare its tone and action to the tale of the tortoise and the hare. What fun! 

As she has done in numerous other titles, Andrea Zuill brings her quirky sense of fun in ink and digitally colored artwork to the tale. She gives readers a real sense for the silliness of the dog and her antics as she speeds from place to place, always sure she is running the race of her life. 

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